Taking a MB from the UK to Arizona

[TJM]

My wife and I are planning to buy a vacation home in Arizona this year, where we will spend 4-5 months each year. I am currently looking at the practicalities of bringing my 49cc Rex FM50 across the pond - permanent import and registration, or ship back and forth keeping it's UK registration?

Here, it is registered as a moped. In the UK, a MB is referred to as a 'Cyclemotor' by owners and enthusiasts, but there is no such thing in law. If it has an engine of less than 50cc and a max speed of 28mph, it is a moped. Anything larger is a motorcycle. The same rules apply to scooters.

So legally, this is a moped. It must be registered as a vehicle and be issued with a licence plate. I have a dating certificate from the cyclemotor club which declates it to be a "1960 Rex FM50". This is important as it allows the DVLA (Driver Vehicle and Licencing Agency) to issue a 1960 licence plate. The dating is taken from the engine, not the bicycle, as it is the engine that makes it a moped. It also declares the bicycle to be 'of appropriate age'. This is a DVLA requirement to preventpeople putting a 1960 engine on a 2016 Cannondale bicycle and claiming it to be a 1960 machine. So if I were to take the engine from the Göricke bicycle and put it on another bike 'of appropriate age', it would retain the same licence plate.

As it is legally a moped, to use it on the Queen's highways, it must be registered, insured with a minimum of unlimited third party cover, road taxed and have an MOT (road worthiness certificate). I must wear an approved helmet when riding it. There is no such thing here as limited liability third party insurance. By law, all vehicle insurance must have unlimited third party cover.

However, being pre-1975 it is classed as an 'historic vehicle' and is exempt road tax. Also, pre-1960 vehicles are exempt MOT. So mine currently requires an MOT, but this should change soon - the road tax and MOT exemption is expected to become a rolling 40 year exemption.

To ride a moped, you must also have a moped licence. However, if you passed your car driving testbefore 1st Feb 2001, this also acts as a full moped licence. I passed mine in 1977, so I'm good to go.

If I bring it across permanantly, it will presumeably have to be registered. It will be used in Tucson and surroundings, where a MB appears to be defined as 48cc and below. My Rex is clearly stated to be 49cc on the engine plate:

I'm not trying to dodge the system; I'm quite happy to register it if necessary, but don't want to if I don't need to.

The alternative is to keep it's UK registration and bring it back and forth. This is allowed by US Customs - a visitor can temporarily import a foreign registered vehicle for up to 12 months. The cost would be around $200 in each direction. British Airways won't take a motorized bicycle or moped as hold baggage, but will take a bicycle in a hard sided bike carrier and a de-fueled small engine packed in hold baggage. Taking the engine off is a 15 minute job.

Insurance may be an issue, but there are a small number of European insurance companies that specialise in Europeans taking motorcycles on vacation to the US and can provide cover for US road use. I don't know if any US insurers will provide cover for foreign registered vehicles.

A possible disadvantage may be the weird licence plate, which may well attract the attention of law enforcement officers - (example only, not my actual plate, but this is the style):

There is also the risk of course, that BA may lose all or part of the machine, but moving it back and forth would give me year round use.

I'd be grateful for member's comments, thoughts or suggestions.

Best wishes,
Terry

 

[troyg]

Wait for confirmation from actual AZ riders, but I believe there no reg there, you look good.That's a sweet ride, VERY sweet, someone has a stinky leg.I would check into shipping something that's had gas through it, I've had problems there.
Look at that leaned back seat tube, must be comfy.

 

[TJM]

Re-checked with BA and they will only accept a new, never had fuel, engine as hold baggage. So I would have to ship it each way via UPS/Fedex as hazaradous cargo which could prove expensive. Hmmm, more research needed .

Terry

 

[troyg]

For what it's going to cost you, I suggest you keep it there, every shipment is a GOOD chance of damage, I don't know how rare that bike and engine, but it looks not easy to source.You can easily put one together here, a GEBE on a semi-recumbent or cruiser would be a comfy close second.

 

[KCvale]

Hi TJM,
So you are headed here eh?

I built MB's for a living up the road from Tucson in Phoenix, Arizona.
It is a pretty friendly MB state for the most part, that meaning law enforcement doesn't mess with you much if are riding safe as MB's are common place here.

That is one classic jewel you have there and would be highly admired around here, but unless you planned to leave it I suggest you just leave it there and build something new for here as you won't get it here for $200, I can barley ship a completed MB to Tuscon from here for $200.

Just a thought as a desert based NEW MB for here might be a nice change.
Nostalgia is nice and all, but nothing trumps new technology for actually getting out at riding, especially in AZ, we don't build up, we sprawl out so little is close.

Just some thoughts from someone that has lived here for ~50 years.

In other Arizona news, for the 6th year in a row I am trying to get AZ MB relaxed to 66cc 30mph.
Maybe this will be the lucky year.

Speaking of lucky years, do you follow NFL Football?
About as likely as me following UK Soccer but you might want to bone up on the Arizona Cardinal's NFL team, they play this weekend for the NFC title and a trip to the super bowl, this is a huge statewide thing for us so may want to be aware of that depending when you come.

 

[Speeding Street Urchin]

I think it would be better to build one down here in AZ as people have said shipping things that have had gas in them is such a pain. I mean just look at how stringent it is to import a car to the states from Australia or Japan, they will dock you 100s$ for one leaf that's on you're car from the last country... If it's going to cost more than 500$ I'd build one here and leave it here. When you take it back to the UK will you have to re register?

 

[TJM]

Thanks for the replies. The bike less engine, in a bike carrier, would travel as an extra hold bag with a charge of $90. The engine, guessed at 30kg boxed weight, would be $102 via UPS.

I'm leaning towards permanent import and registration as a moped, and buying something else to play with in the UK. Next I need to do some research to see if, as a 55 year old machine, it would be subject to any sort of customs charges, type approval or emissions checks on import.

Hi Urchin. If I were to keep it in AZ, I would just leave it registered in the UK. As it would be exempt road tax and MOT it's not going to pop up on the DVLA's radar. They wouldn't bother to check where it was physically located, I'd just stop the UK insurance. Technically, I should notify it as exported and de-register it, but I can't see the DVLA getting in a tizzy over an old bike, even if they ever found out it was no longer in the UK.

I also need to check to see if proof of title is required to register a moped in AZ. There is no such thing in the UK, so I would have to see if a solicitor friend could knock up something impressive looking.

Terry

 

[KCvale]

AZ Bicycle Riding law is here.
http://www.azleg.gov/search/oop/qfullhit.asp?CiWebHitsFile=/ars/28/00815.htm&CiRestriction=bicycles

AZ Motorized Bike law is here.
http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/02516.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS

AZ Moped law is here.
http://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/02513.htm

This is All transportation law you can search.
http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=28

 

[JunkyardDog]

I live in AZ, and have a VeloSolex 3800, which is basically a French made version of what you have. It too is called a "cyclomoteur" (French spelling) It is not legal in AZ as either a moped or motorized bike. It cannot be registered or insured because it has no title, VIN, and is not DOT approved. It can be ridden as a motorized bicycle, which is how I ride mine (it doesn't get ridden that much) but legally the engine is one cc to big. And it actually tops out at 20 mph, which is the legal limit for motorized bikes here. You can get away with it unless you are involved in an accident and someone gets hurt, then the police and lawyers are going to start looking at it a little more closely.

Motorized bike laws are pretty simple in AZ, yet they have a bad reputation because of all the irresponsible riders. The speed limit is 20 mph, max engine size is 48cc, you can ride in the bike lanes, but pedal bikes have the right of way. I have found that it is only the spandex crowd that ride anywhere near that fast, most commuters on Walmart bikes ride 7-8 mph, and if I am coming up behind one, I back off the throttle and stay behind them, unless there is a clear opening in traffic where you can pass at least 3 feet away from them (there is also a seldom obeyed law in AZ that says a motorized vehicle may not get closer than 3 feet to a cyclist) No riding on sidewalks or dedicated bike paths. In AZ, the "motor assisted" bicycle is viewed as a commuter vehicle, not a sport bike, and is expected to be ridden in the same way one would ride a regular pedal bike, with the above exceptions. I have no problems riding withing these rules. I like going for long, slow, relaxing bike rides. If you are in a hurry, take a car or motorcycle.

 

[KCvale]

Motorized bike laws are pretty simple in AZ, yet they have a bad reputation because of all the irresponsible riders. The speed limit is 20 mph, max engine size is 48cc, you can ride in the bike lanes, but pedal bikes have the right of way.

In AZ, the "motor assisted" bicycle is viewed as a commuter vehicle, not a sport bike, and is expected to be ridden in the same way one would ride a regular pedal bike.

I have no problems riding withing these rules.
I like going for long, slow, relaxing bike rides.
If you are in a hurry, take a car or motorcycle.

Interesting view...

So you think the people that don't have the option of a car or motorcycle should do what for reasonable personal transport?
When your livelihood depends on your timely transport from place to place do you feel it's best to make it even harder for them to get around and be productive?

I can't do 19mph on a road with 30+mph traffic, it's stupid and dangerous in my option so I always try to ride that traffic speed.
19 may be dandy for your 'relaxing rides' bud, when it comes to working and making your way there and back you need some power and speed even though your seldom need both.

Just asking where you stand on my proposal to relax AZ MB law for MB's for another cheap usable transportation option that posses little threat of injury or damage to anyone or anything but the rider...
...and can get you to work on time.